Calendar

General Election 2014

REMEMBER TO VOTE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4!

*NOTE: Not sure if which rep or senate race is the election you are looking for? Enter your address on the Secretary of State’s website and find out where your polling place is and what ward/precinct is yours.

(all candidates arranged alphabetically)

Only races with at least two candidates on the ballot are listed. For full ballot information statewide, check out the Secretary of State’s Candidate List.

United States Senate

Brian Herr-R

Offices Held: Hopkinton Board of Selectman, Planning Board
Profession: ConstructionFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Technically speaking, the US Senate race tops the ticket this year, however, the stakes are not as high as the govenror’s race. Brian Herr has had very little exposure and money, although arguably he has made the best effort of the non-gubernatorial statewide GOP candidates this year.

Edward Markey-D(incumbent since 2013 running for first full term).

Offices Held: US House (5th & 7th districts) 1976-2013, state representative 1973-76
Profession: AttorneyFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): A distinguished member of the House before 2013, Ed Markey sought and won Secretary of State John Kerry’s former seat during a special election in 2013, giving him little more than a year before facing voters again. While he won the special by 10 points, he is not expected to face as stiff a challenge this time around. A longtime activist on environmental issues, especially climate change, Markey has maintained his progressive track record in the Senate and has shown independence from the White House as well. Most recently, he joined Massachusetts’ other senator, Elizabeth Warren, in opposing the arming of Syrian rebels to counter ISIS. Earlier this year, he and Warren were among the first signatories of state ballot petitions to install paid sick leave and raise the minimum wage in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Governor/Lt. Governor

(All info is for the gubernatorial candidate except where otherwise noted)

Charlie Baker/Karyn Polito-R

Offices Held: none, non-elected service as Secretary of Health/Human Service 1992-94, Administration & Finance 1994-98.
Profession: Insurance executive/Republican department headFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): A former insurance executive and Republican political hand, CharlieBaker is hoping that two times a charm facing Martha Coakley rather than Deval Patrick as he did in 2010. Much of the shift in strategy this time around appears to be a charm offensive, directed primarily at the press, which in turn has sculpted a softer image for the voters. However, as the events of a week in which he called a female reporter “sweetheart” proved, it is a tenuous transformation. Still, he developed a firmer platform than in 2010 and indeed, firmer than that of most Republicans running for office, which hope to coast to victory on anti-Obama hysteria. Like 2010, Baker has attracted some Democratic support, but mostly from what are largely seen as the margins of the party. He has also spent a great deal of time in working class quarters of cities like Boston, to what end is impossible know until Election Day. His running mate Karyn Polito ran for Treasurer in 2010 and lost to Steve Grossman. She was known as a controversial State Rep when she served in the State House. Her selection was partly to calm the GOP’s right-wing, but Polito also renounced many of her arch-conservative beliefs.

Martha Coakley/Steve Kerrigan-D

Offices Held: Mass. Attorney General (current since 2007), Middlesex District Attorney 1995-2003
Profession: Lawyer/ProsecutorFacebookTwitterWebsite
Coakley Tagged Stories/Kerrigan Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): The Attorney General for eight years, Martha Coakley has consistently polled as the front runner in the primary and general election. More recently, polling has tightened considerably as a wave of negative ads have rolled on her after the primary. After defeating Don Berwick and Steve Grossman in the primary, Coakley has begun to sharpen her platform, but has yet to counter the air war, which has probable done the most damage to her in the polls. Notably, where Baker has done well against her in polls, he has not been very high up either. Early data suggests Coakley’s strong showing in cities may bode well for her. Steve Kerrigan, the successful number two candidate in the primary has more or less seamlessly woven his bid into Coakley’s. Kerrigan, a former aide to Ted Kennedy and a longtime Democratic figure, has deep ties to the very parts of the Democratic party that might waver in support for Coakley, which could prove helpful and maybe crucial.

Evan Falchuk/Angus Jennings-UI

Offices Held: none
Profession: Lawyer, healthcare executiveFacebookTwitterWebsite
Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Evan Falchuk has been broadly identified as the more liberal third-party candidate in the race. To what extent that is having an effect seems difficult to pin down. Falchuk has spent some cash in this race to raise his profile, but he remains low in polling if that means anything. What, if any impact he like the rest of the third-party candidates will be hard discern until after debates in which they are featured (not all debates will have all five gubernatorial candidates). So far, Falchuk was the one to step out the most as he did in a Faneuil Hall forum.

Scott Lively/Shelly Saunders-I

Offices Held: none
Profession: Evangelical ministerFacebook
TwitterWebsite
Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): The evangelical minister from Springfield Scott Lively is running for governor with all attendant baggage. Although filed as an independent, he earlier had taken on the libertarian banner, which would appear to conflict with his harsh social conservatism and controversial background. Lively has receive national media attention for his role in Uganda’s anti-gay laws. His “ministry,” a coffee shop on State Street has attracted protests over the years. He himself has been sued in federal court for his alleged homophobic activities.

Jeffrey McCormack/Tracy Post-I

Offices Held: none
Profession: financierFacebookTwitterWebsite
Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Jeff McCormack has been the more (sane) conservative independent in the race to Falchuk’s left of center appearance. Drawing heavily on his background in business McCormack has towed a more conservative line, including on immigrants. However, he has probably not taken much of a bite out of Baker as Falchuk has yet to out of Coakley (or vice versa). McCormack casts himself in the same mold as Maine’s idiosyncratic governor turned senator Angus King, but has yet to show the same trans-ideological appeal as King.

Massachusetts Attorney General

Maura Healey-D

Other Offices Held: None elected, former bureau chief in AG’s office
Profession: LawyerFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): A political newcomer, Maura Healey kept the AG’s race tight all summer long before breaking out into a nearly 2-1 win over former state senator Warren Tolman. Continuity has been one of Healey’s selling point, implicitly or not, but her campaign gained visibility when she came out in favor of repealing casinos and breaking with her former boss (who initially struck the question from the ballot). Critics say it was a tactical move, but it and nimble plays on transparency put her in a position to rally a close result at the convention. A sharp commercial exploded her name recognition and popularity. In the general election, she is the heavy favorite to take her old boss’s place as the state’s chief law enforcement officer, however, her opponent appears to have the capacity to self-fund freely which will require her to not take anything for granted.

John Miller-R

Other Offices Held: None
Profession: LawyerFacebookTwitterWebsite
Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): A high-powered construction and government contracting attorney tied to one of the nation’s biggest lobbying firms, John Miller has made a crusade against corruption the hallmark of his race. Because of the limited belief that much of the GOP’s down ticket statewide candidates have a race, little scrutiny of his legal work has made it into the press. His website is quite bare with little detail of his platform and even less about his background.

Massachusetts Secretary of State

David D’Arcangelo-R

Other Offices Held: Malden City Council
Profession: Public relations, communicationFacebookTwitterWebsite
Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): David D’Arcangelo, a former city councilor from Malden, member of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind has made a personal cause the thrust of his campaign: public records. His own struggles to get public records out of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office appear to be the basis for this, and it has gotten some press attention. However, like the rest of the GOP’s down ticket campaigns, D’Arcangelo has not raised much money and does not appear to have much of an organization beyond what the GOP’s Victory campaign can provide.

Daniel Factor-G

Other Offices Held: none
Profession: attorneyFacebookTwitterWebsite
Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): A figure in progressive causes according to his website, Daniel Factor is the highest ranking office for which the Green-Rainbow party decided to put a candidate. Reviewing his issues profile, Factor’s agenda appears to include many liberal proposals, but few, if any, are actually within the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s ambit, which includes elections, public records and other filings related to the state.

William Galvin-D (incumbent since 1995)

Other Offices Held: state representative 1975-1991
Profession: attorneyFacebook
TwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Presently the longest-serving statewide official in Massachusetts, Bill Galvin has been a fixture in Massachusetts elections primarily since his election in 1994. After an unsuccessful run for Treasurer in 1990, he returned to elective office and has flirted with both governor and AG since. However, he has ultimately and consistently decided to stay put, rather than move. Although his handling of public records has come under scrutiny, there have not been much in the way of complaints against the handling of other departments under him, especially elections. He is heavily favored to win.

Massachusetts Treasurer

Deborah Goldberg-D

Other Offices Held: Brookline Select Board 1998-2004
Profession: Businesswoman, non-profit leaderFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Goldberg’s family once controlled Stop & Shop before a hostile takeover at in the 1980’s, but since then the former Brookline town official has been in the public sector. She came in second against Tim Murray in 2006 and has been involved in non-profit work since. The Treasurer’s campaign has not attracted the attention of AG or even possibly the LT’s race, but Goldberg has some statewide name recognition which ostensibly propelled her to the top at the convention. It was also enough to propel her beyond two long-serving legislator’s int he primary. Goldberg has emphasized some issues that may be outside the Treasurer’s purview, but has also talked about how the commonwealth invests its money and the need for greater financial literacy among citizens. Like all of the Democrats in the primary, she opposed casinos.

Michael Heffernan-R

Other Offices Held: none
Profession: financier, IT firm ownerFacebookTwitterWebsite
Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Mike Heffernan probably has the best chance of the down ballot GOP to win his race, although like the rest of the non-gubernatorial statewide candidate, suffers from cash and organizational disadvantages. Several of his claims about the commonwealth appear incorrect or out of context (by most accepted standards, Massachusetts does not have the highest debt/capita in the country). In contrast to Goldberg, Heffernan supports the casino law.

Other Offices Held: state representative (1985-93), Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development 2007-2009
Profession: business/trade association figure, nonprofit founderFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Elected in 2010 after serving in Deval Patrick’s cabinet, Suzanne Bump has largely taken the independence of her office seriously. Figures from her former boss to locally prominent figures like Herbie Flores have disputed her office’s findings, but overall it would suggest she not gone out of her way to avoid upsetting the political classes, something for which her predecessor had been criticized. However, Bump did, well, hit a bump in her likely coasting to reelection when a top aide resigned and alleged political activity took place on state time. Bump denied the claims.

MK Merelice-G

Other Offices Held: state representative (1985-93)
Profession: journalist/financial servicesFacebook
TwitterWebsite
Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Little information is available about MK Merelice other than she had a career in journalism before moving over to financial services. She serves on a number of Brookline-based board and groups. No particular issues are highlighted on her page.

Patricia Saint Aubin-R

Other Offices Held: none
Profession: accountantFacebookTwitterWebsite
Tagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Patricia Saint Aubin, like her predecessor in the nomination for this contest in 2010 has a personal background in accounting and auditing. She has charged that Bump is producing fewer audits than the office used to, a charge that Bump counters by arguing that under her predecessors the office produced more, but crummier audits. In any event, it appears that raising the volume of audits is high on Saint Aubin’s list of things to do. She had not apparently criticized the quality of the incumbent’s audits.

Other offices held: East Longmeadow Select Board 2012-2014 (half of a term), Chicopee Retirement Board circa 1997-present
Profession: marketing, business community figure, lobbyistFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): A figure in the business community for almost 25 years, Debra Boronski has tried to leverage this as grounds for her election to the state senate. While she had a notable career in established regional chambers of commerce, in 2008 she founded statewide chamber with the goal of promoting business throughout the commonwealth. In the process, Boronski also registered as a lobbyist. So far it has not lived up to those ambitions and remains, financially, a fraction the size of regional chambers and other statewide outfits. More recently Boronski served half of a term on the East Longmeadow Select Board. Boronski has not offered much clarity in her positions other than being decidedly pro-gun.

On the Candidate (briefly): An understandably disliked appellation, but Mike Franco has been a perennial candidate in area politics for years. Until this year year he had focused on the Governor’s Council. Long a Republican, this year he decided to compete as an Independent on the America First line. For the most part he has not competed in the campaign much, declining so far to attend forums open to all candidates. He has taken pot shots at both Boronski and Lesser, however.

Eric Lesser-D

Other Offices Held: None elected, Director of Strategic Planning, WH Council or Economic Advisors.
Profession: Gov’t/campaign staffer, law student (on leave), consultantFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): The Longmeadow resident’s story into the White House is familiar now, but upon his exit—to return to Harvard for law school—Eric Lesser somehow left the DC snake pit without scorn from media and politicos alike. Years ealier he battled town budget writers in high school to stave off teacher layoffs. Skeptics deride his narrative of returning home or lay charges of ambition, but others seem attracted to the tone and substance of his campaign. A photogenic infant daughter and an ample supply of volunteers to knock doors and call voters has not hurt either. Lesser emerged from the Democratic primary victorious, but much of the same non-issue criticism fired at him in the primary was picked up by Boronski. During the primary, the economy, seniors and talent retention have been his focus although indications are that public safety and local aide funding are also due to join his platform.

Offices Held: Fourth Hampden, state representatives 2002-2013
Profession: Legislative aide (prior to election)FacebookTwitter (inactive)WebsiteTagged StoriesOn the candidate (briefly): Don Humason was long thought to be Knapik’s heir apparent to take the Senate seat just as Knapik did nearly 20 years ago. Knapik’s timing for resignation did give Humason a boost as it jammed Democrats who might otherwise consider the seat were it not falling in the midst of a municipal election year and ultimately Humason prevailed in the special election. Although thought to be more conservative than Knapik, Humason has built an impressive bulwark in Westfield, which is more familiar with his gregarious persona than his voting record. In this election, Humason’s base in Westfield is likely to be cancelled out somewhat by Leahy’s base in Holyoke, but that still leaves a lot of right-leaning territory on which Humason can try to gain the advantage.

Patrick Leahy-D

Other Offices Held: None elected, Holyoke police office.
Profession: Police officer, realtorFacebook
TwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Patric Leahy has a family name, palm card-ready family and, via his police union card, a gateway to labor, both of which pack quite a punch in decidedly Democratic, but heavily Blue-collar Holyoke may only cancel out Humason’s Westfield edge. Leahy is expected to strike a stronger contrast with Humason than David Bartley did last year and then gain a foothold in communities in the district that have ancestral connections to the Democratic party. While spending most of his adult life as either a police officer or in the private sector, Leahy also has a background in politics independent of his family, having worked for Shannon O’Brien, who once held this very seat.

Third Hampden District

Agawam, Granville, Southwick

Nicholas Boldyga-R (incumbent since 2011)

Offices Held: Member, Southwick Board of Selectman, Southwick Parks & Rec Commission
Profession: Financial Services, Police Officer (former)
FacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Little has changed from two years ago in this race. Nick Boldyga, who won the seat in a 3-way 2010 race won this same match up 2012. His views remains as conservative as ever, but that has yet to turn this once Democratic district against him.

Samuel Salvatore DiSanti-D

Offices Held: None
Profession: Small business owner, retired Postal WorkerFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): Samuel DiSanti is trying once again to take on Boldyga, but he does so with considerably less fanfare and money than in 2012. Absent a surge in either between the primary and general, the incumbent remains the heavy favorite.

Fourth Hampden

Westfield

Daniel Allie-R

Offices Held: Westfield City Council at-large (since 2014)
Profession: Printing/publishingFacebook
TwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the candidate (briefly): Undeterred by the loss in April, Dan Allie is seeking a rematch with Velis. Allie ran for and won an at-large seat on the Westfield City Council in 2013 in an election that felled a few Whip City incumbents only to begin running for the special before he was sworn into the Council. Allie campaign in the special was not especially inspiring and controversy over use of campaign funds and unsigned mailers dogged Allie. This time around, he appears to mostly focusing on repeal of the indexed gas tax, which will appear as a statewide ballot question in November. However, unlike the special, so far at least, that appears to be nearly all of his campaign.

John Velis-D (incumbent since April 2014)

Offices Held: none, Army Reserve, JAG unit.
Profession: AttorneyFacebook
Twitter (none)WebsiteTagged StoriesOn the candidate (briefly): A first time candidate for public office, Attorney John Velis proved Dems can win in the Whip City. Indeed, by some accounts, the Republican who began the string of wins by the party for this seat was none other than Velis’ uncle. With deep name recognition, recently minted veteran status after a stint in Afghanistan and a stated desire to apply the skills gleaned over there (rather than merely note them), Velis has been amassing an army of supporters. As a JAG, he visited locales in the Afghan countryside, on a law & order mission to places that had little in the way of either. Self-identifying as a conservative Dems, he has been pitching himself as an advocate for Westfield and looking for consensus rather than ideological rigidity. By some accounts, in Velis’ short tenure, he has secured several hundred thousand dollars for Westfield projects, which had largely been ignored by the legislature before.

Sixth Hampden

West Springfield, Chicopee (Pcts 2A, 3A, 4A) & Springfield (Pct 2E)

Nathan Bech-R

Offices Held: None
Profession: County Jail employeeFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the candidate (briefly): Having both won some and lost some campaigns, Nathan Bech is returning to personal electoral politics after running the anti-Hard Rock side in West Side’s casino referendum. However, Bech also ran a longshot campaign against then-Rep John Olver in 2008. His issues profile on his site is not particularly illuminating, but does cover several subjects. Bech remains active in the anti-casino movement.

Michael Finn-D (incumbent since 2011)

Offices Held: West Springfield Town Councilor circa 2001-2010
Profession: Trial Court Officer, Corrections OfficerFacebook
TwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the candidate (briefly): Unlike 2012, Mike Finn faces a major party opponent who, on paper at least, has the capacity to make this more of a race. However, controversial mailers by conservative organizations and charges lobbed by Bech may only help Finn in the end if voters perceive them as smears. While still relatively junior in the House, Finn has expressed an interest in shaping policy more broadly than just focusing on bringing home the bacon. Finn was neutral in West Side’s referendum, but has taken an active role in assuring that MGM Springfield would not negatively impact West Springfield.

Ninth Hampden District

Other Offices Held: Springfield City Council 2002-2011, Springfield School Committee 2000-2002
Profession: Manager/social worker, Dept of Mental HealthFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): The first Latino Springfield City Councilor may make city political history again if Jose Tosado, as expected wins this historically East Springfield and (usually) Irish seat in November. A Puerto Rican rep from 16 Acres would be a switch from the seat’s traditions, but for a councilor whose crossover appeal led him to top the at-large ballot for a cycle or two it is hardly out of the question. A ill-fated run for mayor ended his municipal political career, but over 10 years in office he built up an independent and increasingly progressive record. Tosado scored a major political comeback when he defeated two Irish opponents in the primary, both of which had powerful allies, and is heavily favored to defeat perennial candidate Underwood.

Robert Underwood-U

Offices Held: None Known
Profession: Computer programming/analystWebsite
Tagged Stories On the Candidate (briefly): Robert Underwood has run in several elections for years, sometimes on Libertarian line. Apparently incarceration for drug offenses led him to turn to the right, but his campaigns have historically failed to gain any attraction or attention. His website has not been updated from 2012.

Twelfth Hampden District

Other Offices Held: Springfield City Council 2000-2007
Profession: AttorneyFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): The former City Councilor turned rep has faced opposition ranging from the token to the potentially worrisome. Over the years, Angelo Puppolo has consistently dispatched them with relative ease, which is why he has a massive warchest for a state rep, despite repeated challenges. In any event, facing re-eleection for the first time without the presidential bump or an incumbent Democratic governor on the ballot, Puppolo may need to spend down the treasury a bit more than usual, especially as he, too, was targeted by Mass Fiscal, a conservative outlet criticized for misrepresenting legislators’ votes.

Robert Russell-R

Offices Held: Wilbraham Board of Selectman
Profession: BusinessmanFacebook
Twitter
WebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): With little money, Bob Russell faces a herculean task to overcome Puppolo, even though the dynamics might otherwise give at least a tap in the GOP’s favor. Russell was hit earlier in the summer with media attention about his business bankruptcy. However, his name recognition from serving on the Wilbraham Select Board may give him a better floor than some of the other opponents Puppolo has faced.

Hampden County Register of Probate

Gale Candaras-D

Offices Held: state senate 2007-present, state rep 1997-2007, Wilbraham Select Board
Profession: AttorneyFacebookTwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): A longtime legislator from the area, Gale Candaras decided to call it quits in the legislature this year to pursue the sorta-open Register of Probate position for Hampden County. Although enjoying phenomenally more name recognition than Seguin, Candaras has not taken anything for granted in this race. The office is too deep in the weeds to a full-on grassroots push, but hitched to the broader Democratic ticket and managing political ubiquity across the county, Candaras has been working to win this office. Candaras cites her work in family and probate law, which the office covers, prior to running for the legislature and also work to reform alimony laws

Suzanne Seguin-I

Offices Held: US House (5th & 7th districts) 1976-2013, state representative 1973-76
Profession: trial court employeeFacebook
TwitterWebsiteTagged StoriesOn the Candidate (briefly): A former assistant register of probrate, Suzanne Seguin is apparently trying to pull a Laura Gentile by arguing that her experience in the office is the paramount qualification voters should consider. Technically speaking, Seguin is the acting register, holding the job by virtue of an interim appointment after her predecessor Thomas Moriarty resigned midterm. Although not quite as well versed in the political game as Candaras, Seguins has, too, campaigned across the commonwealth and made at least one savvy decision: competing in the general election as an independent. No fight in a low-turnout primary. No stain from GOP in the general.

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